Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a long-established, safe and effective treatment for the debilitating symptoms of major depression, bipolar (depression and mania), and schizoaffective disorder among other diagnoses.

For each treatment, the patient is given a short acting anesthetic and a muscle relaxer. Once the patient is asleep, a brief electrical stimulus is used to induce a seizure, typically lasting 30-60 seconds. The siezure activity is very minimal due to the use of the muscle relaxer. It is the seizure activity that causes chemical changes in the brain which helps patients get better.